Liner for teat cups of milking machines



March'lZ, 1929. w. A. vHORTHY m" Ax.

' LNER PQR TEAT cUPs oF MILKING MAGHmEs Filed Nov. '7, 1925 Moya, a

Patented Mar. 12, `1929.

unirsel STATES einer vorrics.

WLLIAIvI ARNOLD HORTI-I HND FLOYD kG. FODSDON, OF CHGAGO, ILLINOIS, .AS-

SGNORS'TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER "COMPANY, CHCACl-O, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF (NEW JERSEY.

YLinen FOR r'.rnAT ours or MILKNG MAonrnns.

1 Application filed November 7, 1925. seran No. 67,518..

The present invention has reference to teat cups employed in milkingl machines und especially Ato the liner or tout engaging member 'tor such teat cups. Y

These teat cups as now known in the artare in the form ot an elongated tubular member and supported therein to engage a teat is a liner, usually made ot rubber. ln the use of these teat cups it has been dittlcult to keep the liner :from disengaging the teatand falling the-retrom. This is objectionable as the cup in 'falling on a barn floor, where these machines are usually employed, becomes dirty. and creates an unsanitary condition, and sanitation in this art is of the greatest importance as can readily be appreciated.

Accordingly, it is the main object ot the invention to provide a teat cup liner embodying features which will prevent its accidental disenagement trom the teat without causing;v injury to the cow, and thereby enhancinga better condition ot' sanitation and eliiciency in mechanical milking.

Another object is to provide such a liner, which can easily and securely be supported iii the teal' cup and yet be quickly removed therefrom tor cleaning' purposes.

Other objects will very likely Apresent themselves as the descriptionv ot this invention progrl f. v Y

ln the preferable embodiment herein disclosed these objects` are accomplished in 'the irov'con of a teat cup liner oi unitary constrmftion embodying a double locking ring` structure tor engaging' the teat and preventing disen 'ement therefrom.

ln the accompanying' sheet of d1'aavin2js,-` Fig. 1 is a side elevational, central sectional view et a teat cup liner constructed in accordance with. the invention and showing it carried by a teat cup, only a portion ot' the cup, however. being shown; and

Fig' 2 a plan view of the bottom end ot the imliroved liner. Y

The improved liner is shown iii-association with a metallic, tubular teat cup having at its upper end a thickened outwardly turned 'flange 11 integral therewith. Only the upper portionot the cup has been shown as it is sufficient Vtor the purposes of this disclosure. The teat engaging liner is molded and formed o'l rubber into a single, integral, unitary'membeig and comprises'a sott, relatively thin, teat engaging body portion 12 ot tubular construction, centrally suspended within the cup 10 by means o1' relatively thicker head portion 13, also tubular, and having' an internal annular groove 111 detachably engaging over the thickened 'flange 11 of the cup. The groove 14- is just below kthe point where the portion 12 merges Vinto the head 13. Immediately above .this point ot mergence and upwardly spaced therefrom the head 13 has integrally formed therewitha locking' or annular flange member 15 centrally apertured, as shown, the aperture being substantially coaxial with the bore of the body portion .12. EXtending upwardly above this flange 15 the head has tormed thereon an udder engagiiig` shoulder 16, which functions to prevent 'the teat cup 'from running); up on the udder, or, conversely, drawing the udder into the cup, to prevent injury to the cow. The point oi mergence of the body 12 withthehead 13, generally indicated at 17 in etfect 'forms a tlanpje sii'uilar to the flange 15, and the two cooperate to crimp the cows teat between them, and in this manner retain the cup on the teat and prevent accidei'ital disengagement o'f the cup trom the teat.

The lower end of the liner body is thickened as at 18 and apertured to provide an out let for the milk and is furthermore provided lwith radially extending` ribs 19. During` pulsations in the vaeuumline, the liner will elongate and stretch lengthwise. lt it stietchcs` very considerably itwilhot course, contact the valve in the teat cup, which controls the passage of milk to the milk can, and in this manner vinterfere with the vacuum and prevent the vacuum from enteringl the teat cup at times. These ribs insure that the vacuum. can at all times pass freely into the upper part o1 the teat cupeven when the liner contacts the valve mentioned, be. .ause they serve as spacers.

The construction is simple and inexpensive and, as its structure and functions have been thoroughly described, it deemed'unnecessary to sum up en. its use and operation, as these will be apparent. y

Vhile only the preferred embodiment of the'invention has been described and illustrated, it isiy of course,capable of modi'lication, and it should be herein understood that it is the intention to claim as part of this in- VVention all such ehang'es which come within the spirit and scope thereof, as indicated in the subjoined claims. y y l/Vhat We clani as nen7 is: l

l. A "feat Cup liner Comprising;` a tubular body, an enlarged tnbulzii head eonneeed thereto, und e lint radially inwardly projecting flange integrally oinied in the head and substantially spaced endwise ifioin the body, there loeingan opening in the flange substantizilly in coaxial alineinent with the 'tubular body.

2. A neat cup liner having a body and a head, there beinga groove in the head for locking,` over the flange of a. tea cup, an annular flange Spaced endwise from saidV groove to 'foiin a second gijoove iorlocking on a tent, and a shoulder extending a substantial dis tance endwise of the flange.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signa- 20 tures.

' WVILLIAMARNOLD HORTHY. Y

FLOYD G. HODSDON. 

